Medupi to produce less emissions

Johannesburg - Power utility Eskom on Tuesday said its Medupi Power Station would incorporate supercritical thermodynamic technology design, which will ensure improved environmental performance.

Medupi Power Station is a coal-fired power plant in Lephalale, comprising 6 units rated in total at 4 800 MW installed capacity.

A first for Eskom, the use of a supercritical steam cycle uses higher temperatures and pressures than previous generation machines, thereby operating with greater efficiency.

"The supercritical thermodynamic technology design is a first for Eskom and with the higher efficiency will result in better use of natural resources, like water and coal, and will therefore have improved environmental performance," Eskom said in a statement.

It said the station's overall thermal efficiency would be improved by about 4%, which means for every unit of power sent out; some 4% less coal than what is usually used will be burnt, thereby producing fewer emissions.

Eskom said it has also committed to the retrofit of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) technology on all of Medupi's units.

This application of FGD will result in a reduction of about 90% in the gaseous emissions of Sulphur Dioxide gas from the station's chimneys.

"Medupi will be the biggest dry-cooled power station in the world," said Eskom managing director for generation Thava Govender.

"The construction of the plant will have a major impact on the lives and the economy of the small community in Lephalale as homes and a social infrastructure is planned to be developed to serve the thousand of contractors working on site in this small yet special community," Govender said.

- I-Net Bridge